Refrigerated display case



Patented Feb. 20, 1934 REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Arthur v. Phillips,London, Ontario, cm, as-

eignor to Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Application October 2, 1930, Serial No. 485,956, and in CanadaDecember 24, 1930 9 Claims. (01. 62-395) This invention relates tomechanical refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to mechanicallyrefrigerated display cases.

The object of this invention is to provide a mechanically refrigerateddisplay case of such construction that a relatively low temperature maybe maintained in the refrigerated compartment while defrosting therefrigerant evaporator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanicallyrefrigerated display case so constructed that the refrigerant evaporatormay be exposed to outside air during the defrosting period to acceleratethat operation.

Heretofore mechanically refrigerated display cases have been constructedin such a manner that the temperature maintained in the refrigeratedcompartment is relatively the same as the temperature in therefrigerating compartment. Consequently, during the time necessary fordefrosting the refrigerant evaporator, food stuffs kept in therefrigerated compartment are subject to a higher temperature than isdesirable. In refrigerated display cases used for the storage anddisplay of food stuffs designed to be kept in a frozen condition, arelatively long period is necessary to complete the defrostingoperation. It is therefore necessary to remove the food stuffs to otherrefrigerated containers in order to prevent their spoilage. Y

This invention provides for thermally isolating the refrigeratedcompartment during the defrosting operation and eliminating thenecessity for removing the food stuffs contained therein. It furtherprovides for the exposure of the refrigerant evaporator to the outsideair during this period, and thereby accelerating this operation to suchan extent that no considerable increase in temperature occurs in therefrigerated compartment.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end view in elevation showing the refrigerated andrefrigerating compartments in cross section.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the refrigerated compartment isolatedfrom the refrigerating compartment and the refrigerant evaporatorexposed to the air.

The display case 10 embodying this invention is provided with the usualbase or storage com- 50 partment, not refrigerated, 11, separated fromthe refrigerated compartment 13 and refrigerating compartment 14 by ahorizontal partition 12. The horizontal partition 12 is rigidly securedto vertical frame members 15 and 16. A transparent 55 wall 18 ispositioned between the front vertical frame member 15 and a top wall 17.The transparent wall 18 permits prospective purchasers to view the foodstuffs displayed and stored in the refrigerated compartment 13.Positioned between the top wall 1'? and a horizontally disposed frame 80member 18 is a transparent sliding door 19 providing access to theinterior of the refrigerated compartment 13.

As shown in Figure 1, there is no partition or wall between therefrigerated compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment 14. Thetwo compartments have common side walls. The horizontal partition 12forms a bottom wall for both compartments. A movable partition 20,secured to the vertical frame member 16 by hinges 7 21, provides a rearwall for the refrigerating compartment 14. A removable partition 22,positioned betweenthe horizontal frame member 18 and the rear wall 20,forms a top wall for the refrigerating compartment. The removablepartition 22 is also adapted to close the opening between therefrigerated compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment 14 asindicated in Figure 2. A lateral slot 23 is provided on the uppersurface of the horizontal partition 12 to receive one end of theremovable partition 22 when in position as a closure for therefrigerated compartment 13.

A refrigerant evaporator 24 is disposed within the refrigeratingcompartment 14. The evaporator is supported on legs 25 secured to thehorizontal partition 12. Suitable refrigerant conduits connect theevaporator to a refrigerant compressor condenser structure, not shown,which may be located in the base 11 or any other suitable place. Theevaporator 24 may be exposed to the outside air to aid in defrosting it,or to make it available for repairs, by removing the wall 22 andswinging the wall 20, by means of the hinges 21, away from theevaporator.

What is claimed is,

1. A refrigerated display case comprising a compartment to berefrigerated, a refrigerating compartment in open communicationtherewith, said refrigerating compartment having a removable top walland a hinged side wall, a refrigerant evaporator disposed in saidrefrigerating compartment, and means for thermally isolating therefrigerated compartment comprising closing the opening between it andthe refrigerating compartment with the aforesaid removable top wall.

2. A refrigerated display case comprising a re-' frigerated compartment,a refrigerating compartment in open communication therewith, saidrefrigerating compartment having a removable wall and a hinged walladjacent thereto, a refrigerant evaporator disposed in the refrigeratingcompartment, means for exposing the evaporator to outside air comprisingremoving the removable wall and swinging the hinged wall away from theevaporator, and means for thermally isolating the refrigeratedcompartment comprising closing the opening between the two aforesaidcompartments with the removable wall.

3. A refrigerated display case comprising a refrigerated compartment, arefrigerating compartment in open communication therewith, saidrefrigerating compartment having a removable wall and a hinged walladjacent thereto, a refrigerant evaporator disposed in the refrigeratingcompartment, and means for exposing the evaporator to the air outsidethe refrigerator comprising removing the removable wall and swinging thehinged wall away from the evaporator.

4. A refrigerated display case comprising a refrigerated compartment anda refrigerating compartment in open communication therewith, saidrefrigerating compartment having a removable top wall, said removablewall being adapted to close the opening between the said compartments.

5. A refrigerated display case comprising a refrigerated compartmenthaving an opening in one wall, a refrigerating compartment having anopening in one wall coinciding with the opening in the refrigeratedcompartment, said refrigerating compartment having a removable walladapted to close the opening in the refrigerated compartment.

6. A refrigerating cabinet comprising an insulated walled refrigeratingcompartment, a refrigerant evaporator arranged for cooling saidcompartment, and one of the outer walls of said insulated compart entbeing movable and arranged for isolat g said evaporator from therefrigerating compartment.

7. A refrigerating cabinet comprising a refrigerating compartment, anevaporator arranged for cooling said compartment, and movable meansforming at least a portion of one wall of said cabinet arranged forclosing the refrigerating compartment from the action of the evaporatorand for admitting outside air to said evaporator.

8. A refrigerating cabinet comprising an insulated refrigeratingcompartment, 2. second compartment associated with said refrigeratingcompartment, a refrigerant evaporator in said second compartment, saidcabinet having an opening provided between said compartments whereby thecooling effect of said evaporator is conimunicated to said refrigeratingcompartment, and one of the outer walls of said second compartment beingmovable and arranged for closing said opening and for admitting outsideair to said evaporator.

9. A refrigerator cabinet having two insulated adjoining compartmentsand being provided with.

an opening therebetween, a refrigerant evapora tor in one of saidcompartments, and movable means forming at least a portion of one of theouter walls of said cabinet arranged normally to cooperate with otherportions of the cabinet walls to insulate the refrigerant evaporatorfrom the outside air and to be moved to close said opening and to admitoutside air to said evaporator when it is desired to defrost saidevaporator.

ARTHUR V. PHILLIPS.

